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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Thursday, October 21, 1999 |
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 Haryana INLD MP, Ms Kailasho Devi, entering the Lok Sabha on Thursday. - Photo by Vijender Tyagi. |
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CM: plans to revamp irrigation
system White
Paper sought on power crisis 5
more jails likely in Haryana Congressmen
hold procession
Deadline set for departmental
probes SDM
sans powers of Magistrate Aid
to rehabilitate Dalit youths |
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CM gets hero’s welcome in
home constituency RORHI (Sirsa), Oct 20 — What Tosham was to Bansi Lal, Rorhi is now to Mr Om Prakash Chautala. He is showering bounties on the people there. Ask for anything, the CM orders it instantly. The Haryana Chief Minister is on a three-day visit of his constituency. It is for the first time after assuming office of Chief Minister that he has found time for his home constituency. He apologises for the delay and tells people: "I wanted to spend the maximum possible time with you. Due to the elections, I could not do so. Now I am here with you and for you." The Chief Minister visited 13 villages today. He did not address any public meeting. He has chalked out his programme so as to "listen more and speak less", said one of his aides. "I have not come to deliver a lecture, but to listen to your woes", he told the people receiving a thunderous applause from the crowd. Wherever he went, he was accorded a hero’s welcome. People came out in massive numbers to greet him. Accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner and other district officials, the problems of the people were ordered to be solved instantly. Orders were issued on the spot. The Chief Minister ordered the upgradation of the primary school in Jihri. A long pending demand was fulfilled. There is general impression that during the past eight years under the regimes of Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Bansi Lal, the entire Sirsa district was ignored. "Roads were neglected, minor canals not repaired and lanes and bylines remained damaged as nobody cared about Sirsa as it belonged to Chautala", said Mr Bhagi Ram INLD MLA from Elenabad. Today was Mr
Chautala’s first day of a weeklong tour of Sirsa
district. He is scheduled to cover the assembly segments
of Sirsa, Rorhi, Darbha, Elenabad and Dabwali. |
CM: plans to revamp irrigation
system FATEHABAD, Oct 20 — The Haryana Government plans to revamp the irrigation system in the state for its smooth functioning. This was announced by the Haryana Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, while addressing a gathering here yesterday. Mr Chuatala said the government planned to desilt all canals and distributaries in the state besides extending the tailends of the canals. This, he said, would ensure more water for fields in the state. The Chief Minister said he had planned a statewide tour after Divali during which he would cover two assembly constituencies in a day. He said the problems of the people would be solved on a priority basis and he would try that every village and town of the state got its due share in the matter of development. The areas which were backward would be given priority, he said. The Chief Minister admitted that the power situation in the state was grim but at the same time added that the government was determined to provide uninterrupted power supply to the residents. This, he said, would take some time as power was not available at present. He said that the sewer system in the towns was in bad shape and the condition of roads was deplorable. He said his government had sanctioned Rs 500 crore for the repairs of roads in the state and this work would be done in a set time-frame. Later, talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister parried direct questions regarding the possibility of mid-term poll in the state. He said it was for the Election Commission to decide as to when to hold the polls in a particular state. He said personally he was not in favour of a mid-term poll but people wanted him to seek a fresh mandate for a full-five-year term. On the question of his
party not joining the BJP government at the Centre, he
said even earlier, his party had been supporting the
government from outside. Regarding the reversal of the
orders of the previous government in privatising the
power board, he said he was studying various aspects of
the act and would take a decision soon. He added that the
priority of his government would be to provide
uninterrupted power. |
150-cr facelift for roads SIRSA, Oct 20 (UNI) — Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala launched a Rs 150-crore project of upgradation and repair of 6,000 km roads at Burj Bhanga village, in the district, today. The project would be undertaken by the State Agricultural Marketing Board in two phases. In the first phase, the roads would be cleared of potholes by November 30 and in the second they would get a coating of pre-mix carpet with paver finish by early next year. These include 79 roads measuring 417 km in the district. Their upgradation and repair would cost Rs 15 crore. Mr Chautala, who was on a whirlwind tour of his Rori assembly constituency, also announced the setting up of a sugar mill in Sirsa for which the feasibility study and site survey had already been ordered. He said canals and minors would be desilted and wherever required, their tails extended to ensure adequate supply of water to farmers. He said the previous government had declared that the repair and maintenance of minors would have to be undertaken by farmers themselves, but his government had now reversed this decision and the maintenance and repair would be done by the government itself. He also announced the
upgradation of a number of schools, construction of
boundary walls around cremation grounds and retaining
walls of village ponds and repair and construction of
Harijan chaupals besides brick-lining village streets.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Mr Sushil Indora,
MP, Mr Bhagi Ram, MLA, and former minister Hazar Chand
Kamboj. |
White Paper sought on power
crisis SONEPAT, Oct 20 — Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, president of the Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U), today expressed concern about the power crisis and urged the state government to issue a White Paper on it immediately. In a statement here, he also demanded immediate completion of the SYL canal in Punjab territory as it was the lifeline for farmers of Haryana. He said the farmers had been suffering huge financial and crop losses on account of the power crisis as well as the drought like conditions. The people of the state, he said, had the right to know about the power situation as well as the gap in its generation and demand. Mr Vidrohi stated that a drought-like situation prevailed in several districts of Haryana and the present government had done nothing to improve the loss of farmers. Even the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala had failed to express sympathies with the farmers whose crops had been damaged. Mr Chautala was out to befool them by declaring that the government would provide round-the-clock power supply and ensure adequate water supply. The Janata Dal (U) leader urged the state government to come to the rescue of the farmers and given them financial assistance so that they could meet their losses. Referring to the recent
Lok Sabha elections, Mr Vidrohi said his party which was
part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
had not fielded any candidate in Haryana, but had
extended its support to the candidates of the BJP and the
INLD. |
5 more jails likely in Haryana ROHTAK, Oct 20 — The Haryana Government is likely to construct five more jails in the state within the next three years as the existing 15 jails have failed to accommodate the rising number of prisoners. According to reliable sources, the new jails will be constructed at Rewari, Narnaul, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Karnal. The technical formalities for the construction of some of the proposed jails have already been completed. At present, there two central jails, 10 district jails, two small jails and one Borstal Jail in the state, according to official sources. These jails are reportedly packed with more than two times of their capacity. Ambala and Hisar have central jails while Jind, Sonepat, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Gurgaon, Rewari, Mahendragarh and Sirsa have district jails. Besides, there is a Borstal Jail at Hisar and two small jails at Palwal and Ballabhgarh. According to the sources, the capacity of these jails is nearly 4,000 whereas about 9,000 undertrials have been crammed in these institutions. When contacted, Mr Swadesh Kumar Sethi, Director-General (Prisons), admitted that the jails in the state were overcrowded and consequently the inmates had been facing hardship. He said it was due to the rising crime in the state. The district jail here, constructed in 1971, has been accommodating nearly 1700 inmates against the capacity of 350. The inmates of the jail are forced to live in inhuman conditions. Worst affected are the women and the children. To add their woes no new recruitment of jail staff have been made and facilities provided. Taking advantage of flaw on the part of jail authorities four dreaded criminals, involved in dozens of crimes, managed to escape from the local jail a few days ago. He maintained that only
the jails adjacent to Delhi were overcrowded. However,
shifting of the prisoners from these jails to the other
jails is not so easy in view of the security and
technical view points, Mr Sethi added. |
Congressmen hold procession JIND, Oct 20 — Several Congress workers led by Mr Birender Singh, former President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee and Mr Jai Parkash, former Union Deputy Minister held a procession and staged a demonstration against hike in the price of diesel and distress sale of paddy in grain markets in the state. Later, they also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. Addressing the Congress workers, Mr Birender Singh said the unprecedented increase in the price of diesel had adversely affected the common man in general and the farmers in particular. He said the hike would result in inflation and all items of daily use and essential commodities would become dearer. He said due to the shortage of electricity, the farmers were operating tubewells with diesel pump sets. But now with the increase in price of diesel the farmers would suffer financial loss. Mr Jai Parkash said the
Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had
failed to fulfil the promises made to the farmers of the
state. He said the government had failed to provide
proper price to the farmers for their produce. He also
expressed concern over the distress sale of paddy in
grain markets in the state. |
Another DR slab for pensioners CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Haryana Government today released another instalment of Dearness Relief to its pensioners. Mr Sampat Singh, Finance Minister, said the pensioners drawing revised pension of family pension would be given dearness relief at the rate of 37 per cent of pension, with effect from July 1, 1999. He said the pensioners, who were drawing unrevised pension or family pension up to Rs 1750 would now get DR at the rate of 240 per cent of the pension of family pension scheme those drawing pension exceeding Rs 1750 but not more than Rs 3000 would get it at the rate of 180 per cent of the pension or family pension, subject to a minimum of Rs 4200 and those getting pension above Rs 3000 would get DR at the rate of 156 per cent of the pension, subject to a minimum of Rs 5400, he added. He said that the state exchequer would have to bear an additional burden of Rs 6.60 crore on this account during the current financial year.
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Deadline set for departmental
probes CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Haryana Government has directed all the heads of department to conduct departmental inquiries within a stipulated time schedule. They have been instructed to fix the date for preliminary hearing and carry out inspection of listed documents within four weeks. The list of documents of the defence and witnesses along with the nomination of a defence assistant, is also be done within the same period. Similarly, the inspection of relied upon document, submission of list of defence documents, examination of relevancy, procurement of the additional document and submission of certificate confirming inspection of additional documents has to be made within three months. The summons to witnesses and arrangement for their participation in the regular hearing on a day-to-day basis should also be held within three months. The written briefs are to be submitted within 15 days and the inquiry report from the date of receipt of written briefs has to be submitted within 30 days. In case the schedule is not inconsistent with the existing rules, the outer time limit of six months for completing the departmental inquiry should be adhered to as per the detailed instructions circulated to the departmental heads. To ensure timely
completion of enquiry, the documents asked for should be
produced by its custodian within the time limit and the
appellate authority should decide the representation
within 15 days of the receipt of the representation ,
failing which an adverse view should be taken against the
authority concerned. |
SDM sans powers of
Magistrate ROHTAK, Oct 20 — During the recent shake-up in the police and the civil administration, the government has appointed a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) who does not have the powers of a magistrate. Promoted to the HCS during the Bansi Lal regime from the rank of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer, he has yet to pass criminal law in the absence of which he cannot be given the powers of a law enforcing officer. He can work as SDO (Civil) but will not be empowered to decide cases under the Cr PC. Similarly, the officer does not have the powers to decide revenue cases as he is yet to pass revenue law. He has neither the powers of Assistant Collector (Grade-I) nor of Assistant Collector (Grade-II). Incidentally, the
District Revenue Officer (DRO) has been transferred and
posted as Secretary, RTA, at Hisar and his successor is
awaited. Who will decide the revenue cases at that
station is anybody's guess. |
Aid to rehabilitate Dalit
youths YAMUNANAGAR, Oct 20 — The Haryana Government has granted Rs 4,65 lakh for the rehabilitation of unemployed Dalit and backward classes, youths. Mr Ram Ji Lal, chairman Harijan Kalyan Nigam and MLA, Sadhaura, informed here yesterday that the amount had been sanctioned to the nigam which would be financed by he central government. He added that the money would be spent by the unemployed youths on cottage industry and others. He said that the first instalment of Rs 2 crore had already been issued. Mr Ram Ji Lal alleged that during the previous regime the Scheduled Castes and backward classes were ignored intentionally. He said he had also taken up the issue with the state government to issue Rs 441 lakh which was not released earlier during the previous regime.
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Residents start "theekri
pehra" ROHTAK, Oct 20 — The "kachha baniyan" gang, which killed three persons and injured several others on the night of October 15 in Jhajjar, 32 km from here, has created panic among the residents. While the police claims to have arrested five members of the gang, the residents have started "theekri pehra" (self duty) to ensure security. People in Jhajjar, which has a population of about 40,000, have started self-patrolling and night vigil to check such incidents. The DGP had visited the town a couple of days ago and assured that adequate security measures would be taken. However, the residents do not want to take any chances. They have demanded that
more police stations should be set up in the area, and
the number of PCR vehicles should be increased. |
Appeal to Punjabi community SONEPAT, Oct 20 — The speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Ashok Arora, yesterday appealed to members of the Punjabi community to remain united and safeguard their interests in the state by extending support to the INLD leader and Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. Speaking at a reception organised in his honour by the Punjabi Kalyan Sabha here, Mr Arora said successive governments in the state had failed to give the Punjabis their due in government jobs. Members of the Punjabi community had been ignored at all levels. He said all sections of society were satisfied with the functioning of the Chautala government. Mr Arora hoped the
present government would give justice to all sections of
society in future. |
Ashfaqalla Khan's birth
centenary today CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee will celebrate the birth centenary of Ashfaqalla Khan, a renowned freedom fighter on October 22. Born in 1900 Ashfaqalla Khan was hanged to death on December 19, 1927, in Faizabad Jail for his active role in the revolutionary movement during the freedom struggle. He was one of the founders of Bharatiya Prajatantra Sangh and a colleague of martyrs Chander Shekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh and Ram Prasad Bismil. He was also revolutionary poet and a powerful writer who inspired millions and dedicated his life to the cause of freedom, democracy and national unity. Mr Bhupinder Singh
Hooda, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief, has
directed all the party units in the state to celebrate
the birth centenary in a befitting manner. |
HPCC chief flays 4-hr power
cut CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, has flayed the Chautala government for imposing a four-hour power cut on domestic consumers in the state. In a statement here today he said that power cut would affect students, whose study schedule would be disturbed, the most, particularly at a time when examinations were fast approaching. The farmers, he said, were already suffering due to long unannounced power cuts and by its latest decision the government had only shown its abject lack of concern for the general public. The government, which
made loud pronouncements of providing 24-hour
uninterrupted power supply to the agricultural,
industrial and domestic consumers, had been fully
exposed. He demanded immediate steps for improving the
power supply. |
Withdraw diesel hike: Samaj FARIDABAD, Oct 20 — The Haryana Krishak Samaj has demanded the withdrawal of the increase in the prices of diesel. A delegation of the Samaj led by Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala met the Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, recently and presented a memorandum to him in this regard. Mr Subhash Chowdhary, vice-president of the Samaj, said here yesterday that the memorandum also sought a compensation of Rs 10,000 per field due to the failure of crops following deficient rain and the suspension of loan recovery from farmers for the two years. He said the Samaj would hold demonstrations all over the state at the district headquarters on October 26 in support of its demands.
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Relief sought for farmers ROHTAK, Oct 20 — Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former minister, has demanded that loans of farmers of Southern Haryana should be remitted as they are facing a drought-like situation. He said here yesterday that adequate relief should be given to the affected farmers for the huge losses to their crops. Mr Hooda, who visited a number of districts in southern parts of the state, said the farmers had been forced to lead a miserable life as they were not getting sufficient canal water for irrigation. Crops of a majority of farmers had already been destroyed for want of rainfall. Besides, he alleged the recent hike in the prices of diesel had added to the woes of farmers. Mr Hooda warned the state government that he would launch an agitation if adequate relief was not provided to the drought-affected farmers. He also demanded a grant of Rs 50 lakh from the discretionary quota of the Chief Minister for the Jat institution here for its development.
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